Successful treatment of supraventricular tachycardia with flecainide acetate: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Efficacy of flecainide acetate for the treatment of fetal supraventricular tachycardia with cardiac failure was reported.


METHODS
For a case in which maternal digoxin therapy failed, flecainide acetate (400 mg/day) is used from 27 weeks. Cardioversion with improved cardiac function occurred 6 days after treatment. Fetal serum flecainide acetate level was 292 ng/ml which was 64% of the maternal level (453 ng/ml). No adverse maternal side effects were noted with 11 weeks of therapy. A vigorous male baby, weighing 3,610 g, Apgar 8/9, Ua-pH 7.24, was born. He is now 1 year of age and in good condition with medication of 5 mg/kg flecainide acetate.


CONCLUSIONS
Flecainide acetate seemed to be safe for both mother and fetus, and effective for the treatment of fetal supraventricular tachycardia which is refractory to transplacental digoxin therapy.
Amano
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Harada
Y
Y
Shoda
T
T
Nishijima
M
M
Hiraishi
S
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005424:Flecainide / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000196:embryology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005424:Flecainide